Reaping rewards

Piper is on a new behavior reward system at home.  It's based on earning rocks in her jar of water (we offered her marbles, we're not horrible parents - using rocks was her choice) when she displays the positive behaviors we want to see from her.  When she reaches 10 rocks she can choose from one list of prizes, and if she waits until she earns 12 she can choose from a premium list of prizes.  She's actually shown an amazing tolerance for delayed gratification and has twice now waited until she reached the premium list level. 

The first reward she chose was to watch a tv show downstairs on the movietron with popcorn (on a school night!).  This time around she picked going for ice cream with the parent of her choice.  Much to my surprise she chose me and I was very honored to get to take her.  (Especially since she told me today that she hates me.) (I told her that's okay, I'm the mom and sometimes you're supposed to hate me because my highest priority is your well being, not your momentary happiness.  Since your highest priority is your momentary happiness, we're destined to be at odds on occasion - it's the law of nature really and I'm fine absorbing the anger.)

Piper decided on a bubblegum cone.  She told me she'd never had a cone before.  I guess that's true.  I had mint chocolate chip.  Then Piper also had (my) mint chocolate chip.  We had fun - it's not often we have the luxury of hanging out alone together with no other agenda or task looming over us and no one else around who requires my attention.  She told me about how excited she is for her field trip to the movies tomorrow.  She said it's going to be her best day ever.

Piper thoroughly enjoyed Kaleidoscoops.  It was a very fun reward for both of us.